The Gifted Blog

November 22, 2011

Washi tape lovers, hold on to your seats! The car picture I shared from our Japan trip was from a week-long installation in Tokyo made by MT tape, makers of the wildly popular Japanese washi tape. I saw the event blogged on Hello Sandwich the afternoon before our one day stop in Tokyo.

I couldn't believe our luck with the timing! We took the train to Shibuya and fearless G navigated us towards the tape.

We made it!

Washi tape covered buildings.

Washi tape vending machines!

We blended right in with the locals. ; )

Shoppers browsing rolls of tape and sticker sheets.

The event was held at a venue called Dictionary Club, and the entire interior was covered in tape. Amazing!

In the staircase.

There was also a small exhibition on the history of Kamoi, the parent company of mt tape. Did you know they started as a flypaper company? Check out the insect-catching ribbons below! Kamoi was making tape for construction sites and other industrial purposes when a group of artists emailed them in 2006 to let them know they were using it for artmaking! The rest is history.

Rolls of uncut washi tape...

and a cutting machine from the MT factory to cut them to size.

Sample projects at the MT tape pop-up shop. Love the gift bow!

I bought an extra-wide stripey tape and roll of washi paper to take home with me. I'm sure they'll make appearances on my gifts soon!